I'm very happy to be hosting the "Brandon Tudor Knight" blog tour today -- thanks for stopping by! While I'd never read any of Tony Riches' work before, I was thrilled to receive a review copy of this novel, especially having never read a novel centered around Henry VIII's closest companion and brother-in-law, Charles Brandon. Read on for information about this book, my review, and a giveaway opportunity!
Back Cover Blurb
From the author of the international best-selling Tudor Trilogy:
Handsome, charismatic and a champion jouster, Sir Charles Brandon is the epitome of a Tudor Knight. A favourite of King Henry VIII, Brandon has a secret. He has fallen in love with Henry’s sister, Mary Tudor, the beautiful widowed Queen of France, and risks everything to marry her without the King’s consent.
Brandon becomes Duke of Suffolk, but his loyalty is tested fighting Henry’s wars in France. Mary’s public support for Queen Catherine of Aragon brings Brandon into dangerous conflict with the ambitious Boleyn family and the king’s new right-hand man, Thomas Cromwell.
Torn between duty to his family and loyalty to the king, Brandon faces an impossible decision: can he accept Anne Boleyn as his new queen?
From the author of the international best-selling Tudor Trilogy:
Handsome, charismatic and a champion jouster, Sir Charles Brandon is the epitome of a Tudor Knight. A favourite of King Henry VIII, Brandon has a secret. He has fallen in love with Henry’s sister, Mary Tudor, the beautiful widowed Queen of France, and risks everything to marry her without the King’s consent.
Brandon becomes Duke of Suffolk, but his loyalty is tested fighting Henry’s wars in France. Mary’s public support for Queen Catherine of Aragon brings Brandon into dangerous conflict with the ambitious Boleyn family and the king’s new right-hand man, Thomas Cromwell.
Torn between duty to his family and loyalty to the king, Brandon faces an impossible decision: can he accept Anne Boleyn as his new queen?
My Review
This was, as I've already mentioned, my first novel about Charles Brandon. He's an interesting Tudor figure - being at the center of Henry VIII's court from very early on in his reign. Athletic, handsome, powerful... he's the ideal Tudor hero. He even dips into a bit of scandal by marrying the king's sister, Princess Mary Tudor, without permission. Naturally, he's a great main character for focus a story around, and I think Tony Riches did a great job with this book. I enjoyed seeing the softer, romantic side of Brandon, through his marriages and fatherhood. His relationship with Henry VIII shed some light into the softer side of Henry, as well - which is always refreshing.
This story spans the last years of Henry VII's reign, through the death of Henry VIII's third queen, Jane Seymour. Through it, we see Charles Brandon's rise to prominence and glory at his close friend's court. We witness his first, then second marriage, and the other relationships he formed among gentlemen and ladies at court. We go through the tumultuous religious upheavals of the 1530s, and Charles' compassion for and loyalty to Henry's first wife, Katherine of Aragon. We experience the heartbreaks that Charles experiences in his personal life, and the joys and triumphs he finds in his professional life. All in all, this is an all-encompassing story of Charles' "prime years" (if you will). Tony's writing as engaging and filled with enough emotion to help me connect with the characters. Overall, I'd definitely recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys Tudor fiction - especially centered around some of the lesser-known, less-often-written-about, figures.
Intrigued by this novel? Below are some rules regarding the book giveaway. Be sure to enter for a chance to win a paperback copy of "Brandon Tudor Knight"!
This was, as I've already mentioned, my first novel about Charles Brandon. He's an interesting Tudor figure - being at the center of Henry VIII's court from very early on in his reign. Athletic, handsome, powerful... he's the ideal Tudor hero. He even dips into a bit of scandal by marrying the king's sister, Princess Mary Tudor, without permission. Naturally, he's a great main character for focus a story around, and I think Tony Riches did a great job with this book. I enjoyed seeing the softer, romantic side of Brandon, through his marriages and fatherhood. His relationship with Henry VIII shed some light into the softer side of Henry, as well - which is always refreshing.
This story spans the last years of Henry VII's reign, through the death of Henry VIII's third queen, Jane Seymour. Through it, we see Charles Brandon's rise to prominence and glory at his close friend's court. We witness his first, then second marriage, and the other relationships he formed among gentlemen and ladies at court. We go through the tumultuous religious upheavals of the 1530s, and Charles' compassion for and loyalty to Henry's first wife, Katherine of Aragon. We experience the heartbreaks that Charles experiences in his personal life, and the joys and triumphs he finds in his professional life. All in all, this is an all-encompassing story of Charles' "prime years" (if you will). Tony's writing as engaging and filled with enough emotion to help me connect with the characters. Overall, I'd definitely recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys Tudor fiction - especially centered around some of the lesser-known, less-often-written-about, figures.
Intrigued by this novel? Below are some rules regarding the book giveaway. Be sure to enter for a chance to win a paperback copy of "Brandon Tudor Knight"!
Many thanks to Amy Bruno and HF Virtual Book Tours & Book Junkie Promotions for the opportunity to read and review this novel, and be a part of another great book tour! Happy reading, Tudor Enthusiasts!
Giveaway Rules
– Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on March 19th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
– Giveaway is open internationally.
– Only one entry per household.
– All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspicion of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.
– The winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.
– Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on March 19th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
– Giveaway is open internationally.
– Only one entry per household.
– All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspicion of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.
– The winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.
RSS Feed
